Midland man enters plea in child sex abuse case

KELLY DAME kdame@mdn.net

Published 10:30 am, Thursday, September 18, 2014

A Midlander accused of sexually abusing children has pleaded guilty to some of the charges filed against him.

Willard Earl Wallace Jr., 56, appeared before Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen P. Carras and pled guilty to two counts of child sexually abusive activity and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 13. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed one count of child sexually abusive activity and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 13.

Prosecutors filed the charges on July 18, and court records state the children involved in the case are ages 2, 6 and 7.

Documents state Wallace is accused of persuading or knowingly allowing the victims to engage in sexually abusive activity for the purpose of producing child sexually abusive material, and of engaging in sexual contact with the children.

Midland Police began investigating on July 10 after being called to a Concord Street home for a sexual assault involving a juvenile. Court documents state the incidents began in December.

Wallace remains jailed. Sentencing is set for Oct. 23.

The charge of child sexually abusive activity is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; second-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.